Abstract

Skinner, C. and Palmer, K.N.V. (1974).Thorax, 29, 574-577. Changes in specific airways conductance and forced expiratory volume in one second after a bronchodilator in normal subjects and patients with airways obstruction. Specific conductance (SGaw) and the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) were measured in 10 normal, 10 asthmatic, and 10 obstructive bronchitic subjects before and after aerosol salbutamol. Mean SGaw increased by 37% in normals, by 109% in asthmatics, and by 38% in obstructive bronchitics. Mean FEV₁ increased by 2% in normals, by 32% in asthmatics, and by 12% in obstructive bronchitics. SGaw appears to be a more sensitive indicator than FEV₁ of changes in airways calibre following a bronchodilator drug in normal subjects, but FEV₁ is as good an indicator of these changes as SGaw in patients with airways obstruction.